Transcripts

Listening Lesson 1

Practice 1

Woman: I need a table for twelve. It's my husband's thirtieth birthday, so we're having a dinner to celebrate.

Man: So that's twelve people for the sixteenth.

Woman: No, no, it's the day after, the seventeenth. Saturday the seventeenth at eight o'clock.

Man: Ah, yes, of course. A party of twelve for the Saturday. Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid our main restaurant is fully booked that evening, but we do have a small room available for private hire. It can seat up to 20 people, so there would be plenty of space for 12 of you.

Woman: That sounds perfect.

Man: Excellent. Now, we offer a set three-course menu for £23 per person and we can also supply you with a birthday cake at no extra charge. How does that sound?

Woman: That sounds good. So, how much would that cost in total?

Man: Let me see... For the food and the room, that will come to 318 pounds.

Woman: Did you say 380 pounds?

Man: No, 318.

Woman: OK. I think I'd like to go ahead and make a booking.

Man: OK. I'll just take your details.

Practice 2

Woman: Good afternoon. Can I help you?

Man: Yes. I'm looking for a gift for my sister. She's going to be 18 next week, so I thought a piece of jewellery would be nice.

Woman: Good idea. Do you have anything particular in mind? A necklace, perhaps?

Man: She has so many necklaces. I was thinking of a pair of earrings, possibly.

Woman: Does she have a favourite colour?

Man: She likes blue.

Woman: What about this pair? They have some beautiful little blue stones.

Man: They're quite nice, I suppose.

Woman: `They're silver and they're handmade, so you won't find anything like them anywhere else.

Man: Oh, really? So how much are they?

Woman: Well, they were £30, but actually we've got a sale on at the moment, so they're a little cheaper, only £20. So you can save £10.

Man: Great, I'll take them.

Woman: And would you like me to gift wrap them for you?

Man: How much do you charge for that?

Woman: For £4, we give you a pretty box and your own choice of wrapping paper. Or for £5, you can have our luxury wrapping service, which includes a silver box and silver ribbon. And if you would like a card to write your own personal message, that will be £2 extra.

Man: Well, it's a special birthday, so I'll take the luxury option. But I already have a card, thank you.

Woman: That's fine. I'll do that for you now. And how would you like to pay, cash or card?

Practice 3

Man: Hi there, Nam. You aren't still working on your history assignment, are you?

Woman: Hi, Victor. No, I'm taking a break. I'm looking at some photos, actually. A family celebration. Do you want to see them?

Man: Oh. So, who's the cute baby in this picture here?

Woman: She's my niece, my brother's daughter. Her name's Tae Hee. She's one year old in this picture. It's a very important birthday in Korea. We call it Doll or Doll Jan Chi. It's a very special celebration. In fact, I think it's probably more important than a wedding or a graduation. And we invite all our family and friends and sometimes our neighbors. Here's a picture of the restaurant where we celebrated Tehi's big day.

Man: What a lovely place. And a beautiful garden, too.

Woman: Yes. It's a perfect location for taking photographs. Can you see me just there, next to the trees?

Man: Ah, yes. I like your hat. And I like the red and silver hat Tehi's wearing, too. It's really pretty.

Woman: Yes, it's a traditional hat for a girl. Baby boys wear a different one. All black. It looks very serious.

Man: That's a bit boring. Black and silver would be more interesting. What's Tehi wearing round her skirt?

Woman: Oh, that's a little purse. Boy babies wear this too. It's made of silk and it means good luck in our culture. And she's wearing a belt, too. Look, do you see? The belt means she will have a long life.

Man: And what's this on the table there? It's very colourful.

Woman:It's rice cakes.

Man: I've never seen anything like that before. It looks like a rainbow.

Woman: We always eat rice cakes at a baby's party. There are usually twelve different types of them on the table. Look, this rice cake is completely orange in colour and this one here is bright green.

Man: It looks like a vegetable.

Woman: Now look, this is me with my brother's wife, Micha. We get on really well together.

Man: What are you holding?

Woman: Oh, it's a little bag. All the guests get a gift bag at the end of the party. And inside, there's a present from the baby's parents. It's really fun to open it because you don't know what you'll get. So it could be a candle or some chocolates. Guess what I got. You can see it in this next photo.

Man: Um, it looks like a box of tea. But shouldn't it be the other way round? The baby gets the presents.

Woman: Well, the baby receives money from the guests, so in a way you're right. And actually, I've got my present right here. So why don't we open the box right now and have a cup of tea? Then we can try to finish our assignments.

Man: Sounds good to me.

Homework Practice 1

John: Where shall we eat tonight?

Sam: Well, there are plenty of options. The guide says this city has hundreds of restaurants. What kind of food would you like to have, John?

John: Well, I quite like seafood. There's the captain's table on Firth Street. The guide gives it four stars.

Sam: Hmm, I don't know. The hotel receptionist told me the service is slow. But if you like seafood, there are a couple more places in the guide.

John: Ah, yes. Mangan's or Joe's Cafe. What about those, Sam?

Sam: Mangans could be a good option. It's nicer than Joe's Cafe, and there are fantastic views as well. We'd probably pay a bit extra. Joe's Cafe is much cheaper. But we're on holiday. I think we should splash out.

John: That sounds great. Oh, no. Hold on, it's closed tonight. What a shame. Shall we go to Joe's Cafe, then?

Sam: Yes, I suppose we'll have to. I'll give them a call and book a table. Can I use your phone?

John: Er, no. Sorry. I've left my phone in the hotel. We can ask the receptionist to do it. Let's go back now and sort it out. We can get changed and have a drink before dinner if you like.

Sam: OK. Good idea.

Homework Practice 2

Welcome to the latest episode of Film Finest with me, Liz O'Donnell. The films I'll be reviewing in this episode are What Happens in the Night, the new horror film by acclaimed director Yanda Naborg, and Happy is Larry, a new romance comedy starring Harrison Wyatt and Sonia Smith. Let's start with What Happens in the Night. Set in a convent school in the 1950s, this film tells the story of two boys who are haunted by apparitions of monks. The film has the feel of a comic book, as it's shot in black and white, with occasional shots of vivid color. Deneberg, the director, said he wanted some elements to stand out, and he has used color to do it. I would say quite effectively. He claims his inspiration for the film is his own experiences growing up in 1950s Liverpool. A believer in ghosts himself, he thought he saw ghosts in his school years. Ghosts or not, this film is certainly haunting. What happens in the night is a film that will scare you. I wouldn't say it's the best horror film to come out this year, but it's certainly shot beautifully. And it's not hard to follow. So, unlike some recent horror films, you don't have to sit in dedicated concentration for two hours trying to keep up with a complex plot. An enjoyable film. I would give it four stars. In Happy is Larry, Sonya Smith and Harrison Wyatt play two people who fall in love but cannot be together because of their families. The build-up to the film has certainly been epic, with gossip about both co-stars in the papers. Rumor has it that Smith and Wyatt aren't the best of friends. In fact, on the set, they barely spoke to each other. I have to say, though, this doesn't come across in the film, and they look like a great couple. Happy as Larry is a move away from the usual films Sonia makes. She is better known for her roles in action films, but she has shown herself to be a capable comedy actress. However, I'm not sure this is the finest film to do it in. Both men and women alike can get something from this film, but the romance angle is overplayed, and the laughs are few and far between. If you want romance, this film is fine, but if you want comedy, I would recommend seeing something else. I would give it three stars. Now, there are some new video releases which are going to be coming out in the next month.

Listening Lesson 2

Practice 1

Woman: I really enjoyed that little place we went to last weekend. There was a really good choice of meat and fish, wasn't there?

Man: Did you really think so? I wish I could say the same, but actually I thought it was pretty limited. There were far too many fish dishes on the menu, and I can't stand seafood. There just wasn't enough meat.

Woman: Oh, come on, Joe. We really enjoyed the steak we had. And you said that the beef the people on the other table were eating looked delicious too.

Man: Well, I won't be going back. It was much too expensive.

Woman: Well, I thought it was pretty reasonable. In fact, I couldn't believe it when the bill arrived. Forty pounds, including a tip. That's only twenty pounds per person. You can't get steak for less than fifteen pounds anywhere in town.

Practice 2

David: Hi, Leila. Where are you? We need to leave for the party soon.

Leila: I'm on my way home. I'm still waiting for the bus. I was going to get a taxi back, but I've just checked my phone and there's a bus due in about 15 minutes. 7.50pm to be exact. And it seems to be running on time. It left the railway station a couple of minutes ago, so it's not too far away.

David: Do you want me to pick you up? I've got the car, so it's no problem. Where's the bus stop exactly?

Leila: It's the one on Blythe Road. Blythe Road? I'm just checking it on my phone. Is that B-L-Y-T-H? There's an E at the end of Blythe.

David: Got it. OK, I won't be long.

Leila: Oh, actually, David, no need to pick me up. The traffic lights have just changed and I can see the bus coming now. I'd better go. I'll see you at home in a few minutes.

Practice 3

Man: Hi there, Alicia. How was your weekend? You were on a sailing course down at the harbour, weren't you?

Woman: That's right. I really enjoyed breathing in all that fresh sea air. It was only two days, but the time flew by. The instructor began by teaching us safety rules, which was necessary but not very exciting. But then on the first morning we learnt how to open the sails and I even learned how to turn the boat. The water wasn't as calm as it looked, I can tell you. I lost my balance a few times.

Man: Sounds like you had a lot of fun. I'd love to learn to sail.

Woman: Well, there are plenty of courses and I think they run them once a month. So just let me check the website here. OK, so this was my course here. See, the 4th and 5th of August. Now, you could sign up for the next one at the beginning of September, and it looks like there are still some spaces available.

Man: So the next one starts on the 1st of September. I think I could do that.

Woman: Well, let me give you the name of the course leader so that you can give him a call. He's a really experienced sailor. OK, it's John Galloway.

Man: Is that the usual spelling of John?

Woman: No, there's no H. He's just J-O-N.

Man: OK, gotcha. And did you say his surname's Galloway? Can you spell that for me?

Woman: Yes, Galloway, that's G-A-L-L-O-W-A-Y, and I've got his number too. Why don't you give him a ring? .

Practice 4

John: So, how's your very first week at university going, Rita? It's orientation week for all you new students, isn't it?

Rita: Yes, that's right. Orientation week. Yes, it's great fun. There are so many different events going on to help us make friends and find our way around the university. And to get around the city, come to that. But you'll remember all that, John. You were a new student once.

John: That's true. I remember I went on a walking tour of the city on my first day, and I think some students did a bus tour.

Rita: Well, I did a bike tour. I was sent an email about it, and I decided to sign up. There were only eight places, and there were seven other names on the list already, so I got the very last place.

John: I didn't know you had a bike.

Rita: I don't have a bike, but that didn't matter. We all hired them from a little cycle hire shop on Barkway Street. You probably know the place.

John: Barkley Street? Do you mean the Barkley Street on campus?

Rita: No, it's Barkway Street. B-A-R-K-W-A-Y. Number 22, Barkway Street, to be exact. It was great. We could choose a traditional bike or an electric one.

John: So, I take it you went electric?

Rita: Yes, of course I did. Well, think about it. Why ride a traditional bike when you can get around the city much faster on an electric one? And because there was a group of us, it wasn't too expensive. In fact, the cycle hire was only $120 for the whole group. So the cost was only $15 per person, and that was for three whole hours.

John: Did you say $50?

Rita: No, $15. So I thought it was really quite cheap. And I didn't have to bring along a helmet to wear either. That was included. And we also got a lock. So it was easy to park our bike safely when we wanted to stop and take a break.

John: Sounds good. Have you got the website address of the place you got your bike from? I quite like the idea of doing a bike tour.

Rita: Yes, it's a really easy one to remember. It's tradeelectric.com.

John: Can you say that again?

Rita: Trade Electric. T-R-A-D-E-L-E-C-T-R-I-C. all one word dot com

John: Thanks Rita No problem Hey, maybe we can do a bike tour together I'd love to cycle as far as the harbour next time

Rita: Great, that's a date then

Homework Practice 1

Debbie: Hi Penny, how are you doing? Have you just been to the gym?

Penny: Hi Debbie, I'm good thanks, yes, I've just finished a workout. How are you?

Debbie: Yes, good. I'm planning on going to the gym later, but it's hard finding the time now I've got a child.

Penny: I bet it is. Have you tried any of their new exercise classes?

Debbie: Yes, I tried some last week. I wanted to go to yoga, but it was full up. I went to the dance class instead. It was really fun. Oh, and kickboxing last Thursday too. That was exhausting.

Penny: Well, you didn't miss much at yoga. I went there last Friday and it was far too hard. I couldn't do most of the exercises.

Debbie: Oh no. Are you going to try anything else?

Penny: Well, I was thinking of trying the aerobics class.

Debbie: My friend did that one and said the instructor was awful.

Penny: Well, I'll probably give it a miss then.

Debbie: I've got to go to a conference next week anyway, so I'll be away from Tuesday to Friday.

Penny: Oh, lucky you.

Homework Practice 2

As we have seen, changes in the structure of the family are constantly occurring, extended to nuclear, patrifocal to a more equal footing between the sexes, and dual parenting to single parenting. However, a recent phenomenon in the UK, which is changing the traditional family, is the increasing number of adults who continue to live with their parents until their 30s or sometimes even their 40s. The UK has traditionally been a society where offspring leave the family home in their late teens or early 20s to set up their own home and families. But in the last 25 years, this has decreased. Official statistics released by the Office of National Statistics show that today 10% of men in their early 30s still live with their parents. This compares with 5% of women in this age range. The reasons for this are complex and varied. It cannot be denied that some people are choosing to stay at home. Living with parents can be an easy option. Food is provided, heating and electricity are paid for, and rent, if any, is minimal. However, a third of those surveyed claimed they are living with their parents because it is too difficult to get on the property ladder. House prices in the last few decades have risen dramatically. Property is now five times the average annual salary, whereas it was only three times the average annual wage in the 1980s. This fact, coupled with high unemployment amongst young people, makes it virtually impossible for a single person to buy a home or even rent. The number of students going on to higher education has also been steadily increasing. Many of these students return home after finishing their studies as a result of the student debt they have accumulated. It can take many years to pay this off, and if the burden of rent or a mortgage is added to that, it can be just too much for a young adult's pocket. However, help is now at hand. The government is tackling some of the problems that cause people to remain with their parents with a new scheme, the Affordable Housing Scheme. This aims to help people part-buy a house or flat by making housing more affordable for first-time buyers and possibly taking the strain away from elderly parents.

Listening Lesson 3

Practice 1

Man: Come on in. It's Anna, isn't it?

Anna: Yes, that's right. Anna Scott.

Man: Ah, yes. Take a seat, Anna. First of all, we're delighted that you'll be joining us as a store assistant at the beginning of next week.

Anna: Thanks very much. I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

Man: That's good to know. Now, we know you've just finished a course in information technology, so we've decided to put you in the computing and phones section of our department store.

Anna: That's great. Now, that's next to the radios and audio equipment, isn't it?

Man: That's right. All our radios and audio are in a part of the store we used to call the sound station. But, as I've just said, you'll be based in the computing and phones section. Now, we've recently made this area of our store much bigger so that we can sell a much wider range of computer equipment, such as smartwatches.

Anna: Smartwatches.

Man: Yes, we really want to attract a younger group of customers. And we haven't just given this whole area a completely new look. We've renamed it too.

Anna: Renamed it?

Man: Yes. From next week is going to be known as Moving Images.

Anna: Moving Images. Oh, cool. I like it.

Man: Now, do you have any questions before we move on?

Practice 2

Woman: Good morning. You're through to Milton College. How can I help?

Man: Oh, hello there. I'd like to book a place on the food photography course.

Woman: OK. Now, is that the one that starts on the 18th?

Man: No, that's the date of the food technology course. I want the food photography course. It's the day after.

Woman: OK, got it right up on screen now. Food Photography, Saturday the 19th of September. And it looks like you're in luck. There are only a couple of spaces left. We've taken ten bookings already, so you've just made it. The course is limited to twelve participants. It's very popular.

Man: That's good to know. Now, can I just check the details of the course?

Woman: Go ahead.

Man: Now, it says on the leaflet... Um, let me find it. OK, got it. Right, so it's called Food Photography, and I've got here that it begins at 9.30.

Woman: That's right. It's an early start. It begins at half-past nine, and it goes on until 4.30. Most of our weekend courses are quite short, and so they're over in a couple of hours. This course is longer. According to the information I've got up here on screen, it's seven hours long.

Man: Oh, I'm glad it lasts for more than a few hours. I don't think I'd be able to learn how to take good pictures in less than seven hours.

Woman: Now, I'll just give you a bit more information about the course itself. Basically, you'll learn how to take good photos of food using a digital camera, so it'll train you in the basics of using a range of camera angles.

Man: Camera angles?

Woman: Yes. You'll learn how to photograph food using close-up shots, wide-angle shots and shots taken from above, that sort of thing.

Man: What about learning to edit pictures on my computer? Will that be covered too?

Woman: No, I'm afraid not. The purpose of the workshop is to teach you how to take good photos in the first place. It's a really hands-on session. In fact, you'll spend some of the day on location in a local hotel. It's just round the corner from the college, the Lincoln Hotel. So you'll have the opportunity to practice taking photographs using real dishes.

Man: That's great, a practical course is exactly what I'm looking for.

Woman: Now, just a few more things The full fee of the course is $55 And that includes a light lunch and refreshments at the hotel.

Man: Oh, that's really good That means I don't have to worry about bringing along my own drinks and snacks on the day. That would probably cost me at least ten dollars.

Woman: OK. I think that's everything, so I'll just take your details so that we can confirm your place on the course.

Homework Practice

Woman: Hi, Dad. How are you?

Man: I'm fine, Sally. How's the course going?

Woman: It's going well, actually. I'm really enjoying my math course at the moment, mainly because it's not that difficult compared to the other modules.

Man: Good. And what about the tutors? What are they like?

Woman: Well, I've got four, and they're all highly knowledgeable. But Professor Jones is my favorite. I really respond well to the way he teaches.

Man: And are your fellow students nice, too?

Woman: Yes. I've made lots of new friends, and everyone seems to be very hardworking. The course has lots of group work, but to be honest, this isn't really the way I like to study. I prefer to study alone.

Man: Oh, well, I suppose not everything can be perfect.

Woman: I know, Dad. You're right. In fact, there is one thing I'm a bit concerned about. My statistics module. I think I might not pass it.

Man: Well, let's wait and see, shall we? There's plenty of time to improve. Don't worry about it yet, okay?

Woman: Thanks Dad, I'll try not to.

Listening Lesson 4

Practice 1

Woman: Before we go back to the flat, I think we need to check we have everything that we need.

Man: OK, well, you went to Arcadia, so I imagine that you got the strawberries and apples from there?

Woman: Yes, I did.

Man: Did you notice if they had any cucumbers while you were over there?

Woman: I'm not sure. I thought you were going to get them.

Man: Well, I went over to Best Buy and I got some nice carrots and peas, but I didn't like the look of the cucumbers.

Woman: Oh, I suppose we can go there on the way back to the station.

Man: Don't forget, we need to get some cakes and pastries too. We can get those after we've been to Hamptons to get the lamb and chicken.

Woman: OK, good plan.

Practice 2

Woman: In this new series of Talk of the Town, we'll be looking at the different restaurants in and around Ogdenville and getting some tips and recommendations from our resident food critic, Chris Griffin. So, Chris, where have you been this week?

Chris: Well, one restaurant that I really enjoyed is Adam's. It's on the town square. I ordered a steak au poivre and it was perfect.

Woman: What's that?

Chris: It's a steak in peppercorns. It's quite a typical French dish.

Woman: So, is it a French restaurant or a steakhouse?

Chris: Well, the chef is French, but it serves food from all over the world. It has a wide variety of dishes. One word of warning, though, it gets really busy at weekends, so you should check they have places before you go.

Woman: Have you got any other recommendations for us this week, Chris?

Chris: Oh, yes. I can really recommend The Duke on Smith Street. I had lobster and it was really tasty. It also has a few vegetarian dishes, but it's the fish dishes that make it famous in the town. The food isn't that low cost, though, so you might want to save going here for a special treat.

Woman: What about people who are on a budget? Have you got any suggestions for them?

Chris: Yes, I have. The Tower in Market Street is a fashionable restaurant where people can get a good meal at a reasonable price. I had a pizza, but it isn't a fast food restaurant. It specialises in all different types of food from Italy. I've heard that the lasagna is especially good.

Woman: Thanks, Chris. You certainly have given us all food for thought.

Practice 3

I suppose one thing that everybody knows about Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cooking is that they all use chopsticks rather than knives and forks like people in the West. The chopsticks that people use in the different countries are quite different, though. In China, the chopsticks tend to be made of wood and are round at the end, whereas in Korea they're made of stainless steel and are rough at the end. This is because in the past, the emperor would use silver chopsticks, as they changed color if there was any poison in the dish. They can be quite tricky to use, but in Korea, people use a spoon to eat their rice. In Japan, they use a variety of things to make chopsticks. Wood and plastic are the most popular now, but you can find bone, metal, and even ivory ones. If we look at the food of the different countries, it's very difficult to talk about China in general terms because it has many different cuisines. So it might be better if we look at Korean and Japanese food a little more. It's well known that Koreans tend to like spicier food, and red peppers can be found in a wide number of dishes. I suppose that everybody thinks of sushi when they think of Japanese food, but you can also find a lot of influences from all over Asia and even Europe. For example, tempura, which came to Japan from Portugal. Those aren't present in Chinese and Korean food. Traditionally, in both Japan and in Korea, meat plays less of an important role than in Europe, perhaps because it's so expensive due to the lack of space for keeping animals. That said, both the Japanese and Koreans enjoy meat. Barbecues of all types are popular in Korea, and beef forms the basis of many special meals in both of the countries. Now, moving back to Chinese cuisine.

Practice 4

Woman: Today in the studio, I am pleased to have with me the famous chef Graham Shepard. Graham has just come back from Beijing in China, where he was making a TV programme on the food you can try in this historic city. So, Graham, what can you tell us about your trip? Was it how you expected it to be?

Graham: It was quite surprising, really. I suppose that most people think of Beijing duck when they think of Beijing. And I did try some of this tasty traditional dish. But with so many people from all over the country living in Beijing, there really are a lot of different foods from all regions of the country. One dish that I really enjoyed and I didn't expect to find was kebabs. These tasty snacks are originally from northwest China, but they're very popular street food in Beijing. They're especially popular as a tasty snack at lunchtime for school pupils. They have less meat and more vegetables than we are used to, so they're a bit healthier.

Woman: I'm sure that most people have tried kebabs, but did you try anything that might be unusual for our listeners?

Graham: Oh yes. One of the things that I had was jellyfish. It added a nice texture to the dish, but I thought it didn't taste of much. One dish that did have a strong taste was hot pot. The dish I had was made in the Sichuan style, so it was very spicy. What I found interesting was that the hot pot was put on a hot plate in the centre of the table and we were given a dish of raw food and we chose what we wanted and put it into the pot ourselves and got it out when it was ready. It was great fun and very sociable and very tasty.

Woman: I'm sure that you tried some of the dishes that we all know and love too. Can you tell us something interesting about them?

Graham: Of course everybody knows about noodles and dumplings but I doubt many people know how many different types there are. One of the highlights for me was learning how to make fresh noodles with a chef from northern China. The recipe of egg, salt and wheat flour is quite simple, but to make the noodles by hand you need to be quite a skillful chef. Something which is much simpler to make are dumplings. The basic ingredients are flour and water, but the beauty of this dish is that it's very flexible. You can fill them with whatever you like. I especially enjoyed one with raw prawns, but all sorts of meat and vegetables can be put in them.

Woman: Thanks, Graham. That's really interesting. But unfortunately, we've run out of time. If you'd like to know more about Graham's adventures, the series will be starting on Thursday at seven o'clock on Channel 9.

Homework Practice 1

Alice: We've really got to decide who does what for our natural earth project.

Carl: Okay, Alice. Well, we've got all our cloud research, so let's decide how to break it down.

Alice: Well, we should probably start by saying how clouds are formed.

Carl: Good idea. And then maybe move on to the different types of clouds. We can separate it into low-lying, medium-level, and high clouds. What do you think, Jenny?

Jenny: Yes, I think that's a good idea. And we should also make a PowerPoint to make it a bit more interesting and put in pictures of the different clouds.

Alice: Good idea, Jenny. We should probably have cue cards, too. I'm useless at remembering what to say without them.

Carl: Yes, me too. Well, I'm quite happy to organize everything we found out about clouds and make sure it fits into our presentation times.

Alice: Actually, I'd better do that. I've got all the research on my computer, so it makes sense. How about if you make the presentation slides, Carl?

Carl: Okay, Alice. That's fine by me.

Jenny: Well, if you guys are going to do that, then I'll look on the Internet for pictures of the different types of clouds.

Alice: That'll be great, Jenny. I'll also make the prompt card so we don't forget what we're saying during the presentation.

Carl: Sounds great. Let's have a run-through on Tuesday. What sections does everyone want to talk about? I don't really mind.

Alice: I hate speaking in front of people, so I'd prefer not to do the introduction.

Jenny: I don't mind. I'll do that. If you don't want to talk much, then why don't you just do the middle bit about the medium-level clouds?

Carl: Yes, I can do the low-level and high-level clouds part. I'm sure Jenny can handle the summarizing, too.

Alice: Thanks, guys. We can all take questions together.

Homework Practice 2

Right, team. This afternoon, I want to go over the new marketing and advertising strategy so that everyone is clear on the streams for each of our product ranges. Let's start with toys for children. Now, last year, most of the advertising was done through leaflets posted through people's letterboxes across the city. However, the products are now selling well nationally in department stores rather than just in our local shop here in Leeds. So, we're going to expand the budget and use print media. By this, I mean the national newspapers, in order to maximise the exposure to these products. And despite the fact that our competitors advertise baby clothes on TV, we won't be using this method, as our statistics show that it's just not cost effective. People don't pay much attention to TV ads for baby clothes, but we believe a picture in the newspapers will be much more attractive to potential customers. we're going with this method. As far as clothing for expectant mothers is concerned, the campaign will move from newspapers to the internet due to the fact that we've seen an increase in internet shopping for clothes among women in general. And finally, baby food. Adverts for this are difficult to place and we've previously tried ads in all three media. Anyway, although our analysis has shown that the internet is one possibility, we're going to continue using television. Many other types of food are also advertised on TV and happy mothers and babies make a very strong image.

Listening Lesson 5

Practice 1

Hi, Jane. This is Tanya. I'm calling to make arrangements for the concert on Saturday. I can't believe you've never been to the arena before. I often go at the weekend. There isn't just the arena concert venue. There are also lots of other things to do. Shopping, restaurants, exhibitions. I'm giving Melissa and Sarah a lift, so shall we all meet up for a coffee before the concert? I'll give you directions. OK, listen carefully. As you walk through the main entrance, you come to a square with a big fountain in the middle. This is where people usually arrange to meet up, and sometimes they have live music here. Beyond the square, on Main Avenue, on your right, there are several restaurants. And opposite these, on your left, is an exhibition centre. There used to be a cinema here, but they moved it when they finished building the arena. So, there are several coffee shops to choose from. One near the fountain, and one in the north end of the building. But I suggest that we go to the one at the end of Main Avenue, because it'll probably be less busy than the others. It's right at the end, after you pass the art gallery on the right. So, shall we all meet there at seven o'clock? Then, after we've had a coffee, to get into the arena, we just need to go through the shopping centre, which will be on our right once we go back down Main Avenue. It can be a bit tempting, but there's no other way to get there, as the arena is the other side of it. Oh, and there are toilets beside the entrance if you need them. And then, after the concert, they open the door opposite, and you can go straight out into the car park, which is very convenient. Let me know if you can make it for Seven. I'm looking forward to seeing you. It's been a while.

Practice 2

First of all, welcome to our activity summer camp. I hope you enjoy all the activities we have on offer. We start our tour at the outdoor theater here, where we hold many of our evening activities. From here, you can see our various water sport activities. Directly in front of the campsite, on the edge of the lake, we have the kayaking center. And then in front of the beach, we have an area reserved for diving. Swimming isn't permitted here. If you like racket sports, just behind the beach, you can practice badminton in the large building. That's quite popular in the evenings. We also have some outdoor tennis courts. We used to have basketball in the building, too, but now you can play it on the court behind the building. And if these activities make you hungry, the path from there takes you straight to the cafe and dining hall. However, we'll continue our walk along the lake shore, and I'd like to draw your attention to two other areas. One is this part of the lake, which is perfect for swimming, but for safety reasons only when an instructor is present. Unfortunately, we can't offer sailing as an option here this year. And I also want to point out, just across the lake, a track for cycling. Some people in the past have also gone running on the track, but there were a few accidents because there isn't enough space for runners and cyclists, so now running isn't allowed. So now let's take this path here, towards the tennis courts. On our left, you can see there's a football field. Gary's our coach, and he'll be organizing tournaments during the week. He'll arrive tomorrow because he's taking part in a rugby game today. And now, if we walk up to the right of the tennis courts, we can see the archery field, surrounded by trees. And in the building just to the right of this, you can hire equipment for the archery and buy snacks and drinks. It also has some table tennis tables, so you can go there and have a game if the weather turns bad.

Practice 3

Good morning. I'd like to thank the Council for agreeing to this meeting and for welcoming us here today to explain to you our plans for Pinewood Centre. Our aim is to make Pinewoods a place where people of all ages can come and enjoy their free time. The centre will feature our Tree Tops Challenge, only for the brave and fearless. For the less brave and for families with children, there will be adventure playgrounds, indoor and outdoor, and a feeding area for farm animals, and we will also offer cycle trails through the woods. I'll give you an overview of Pinewoods first, and then tell you more about each area in more detail. This first slide shows the overall layout of the centre, and where all the activities will be situated. As you can see from the map, the entrance to this attraction will be on the south side. As visitors enter from the car park, they will walk along this path, leading them to the cafe and gift shop. The gift shop will be where tickets are on sale and therefore needs to be near the entrance. So this building here on the right will be the cafe and the building on the left will be the gift shop. There will also be a picnic field behind the cafe for the warmer months. It's the area just to the right of the cafe as you look at the map. And in the bottom right-hand corner of the picnic field, we're planning to have a barbecue area where people can hire a barbecue and bring their own food to cook. It'll be great for parties. In summer, we plan to have bands performing here in the evenings. To the west of the gift shop is where the Tree Tops Challenge will take place. There's a path here winding through the forest, and up in the trees there will be all sorts of high-level adventure apparatus, rope swings, awesome rope bridges and tunnels, and zip wires where you can fly way above the forest floor. This adventure experience will only be open to those aged 15 and over. Beyond the treetops challenge there will be an adventure playground. To get to it, you go along this path from the entrance until you reach the crossroads, then you turn left. The young children's playground will have a fence around it, making it safer and keeping them away from the lake. The indoor play area, only for the very young, will be on the east side of the farm, near the cafe and just inside the picnic area. And finally, let's turn our attention back to this area here, where the paths meet and form a crossroads. This path, leading to the east end of the farm, will take our visitors to the area which houses the farm animals. Children will be able to watch the animals being fed and cared for, and in some instances they will be able to feed the animals themselves. The sheep will be in this first area on the right here, directly opposite the pigs, and the goats will go at the very end there. We haven't quite decided on the other areas yet. So those are our plans. We hope they will be approved, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the not-too-distant future to see the final result.

Homework Practice

The health and education summer camp in the county of Cork in Southern Ireland is ideal for young people who'd like to learn new sports and activities. It has a beautiful location near a river and occupies five acres. The camp has two types of accommodation, tents and cabins, both of which are modern and comfortable. The cabins are by the river and the tents are on higher ground, away from the river and next to the washrooms. There are two washroom blocks, fully equipped with showers as well as toilets. We also have facilities for cooking here. We provide all the pots, pans and utensils. All cooking is done in the cooking area, which is situated in the centre of the camp. This gives the camp a real social focal point.

Listening Lesson 6

Practice 1

Hello, everyone. Today I'm going to talk about a project I've done about the mountain gorilla. I think it's a truly fascinating animal. They originate in Africa, Central Africa, in fact. So now I'm going to talk a little about where they live. As you can probably guess, and as you can see in this first photo, their name reflects the environment they live in, tropical mountain forests. now just like all other apes they build nests out of leaves but they don't make their nests high up as other species do mountain gorillas make them on the ground instead and they sleep wherever they end their day and they rarely sleep in the same bed twice so i'll move on to talk about the physical features of the mountain gorilla in other words what it looks like so here are some more photographs on screen for you all to have a look at. This gorilla here on the left is a male gorilla. We know that he's an older male gorilla because of the color of his coat. As you can see, his coat is gray. He's called a silverback. Younger male gorillas are called blackbacks, and there's an obvious reason for that. Yes, a young adult male has a black coat. As he gets older, his coat turns from black to gray. Next, I'm going to tell you a little about the diet of the mountain gorilla. Interestingly, mountain gorillas are herbivores. In other words, they survive on a diet of plants. As you can see from this next picture, this gorilla is eating leaves. They also eat fruit and flowers. They occasionally eat insects, too, but only when they're very hungry. And it might interest you to know that mountain gorillas very rarely drink water, even though they live in a very warm climate. It appears they get all the water they need from plants. I'd like to conclude by talking about some of the threats that mountain gorillas face. They are in serious danger of disappearing from our world altogether. Let's have a look at two reasons why they're in such danger, and both of these reasons are connected to human activity. Firstly, people are damaging the mountain forests where these gorillas live. They're cutting down the trees to build farms and towns. Mountain gorillas live in close family groups, and this means that it's difficult for them to get enough to eat in the small areas they now have to live in. Secondly, gorillas are also suffering as a result of hunting. sadly some people find and kill them to sell so it's a very sad situation indeed for these beautiful animals

Practice 2

It wasn't brought here on purpose. It actually arrived in a big container of aquatic plants. In other words, it was accidentally introduced into Britain. Now, I'll tell you a little about its appearance. The American bullfrog is a very large and ugly species of frog. And when I say it's large, I mean large. Interestingly, female American bullfrogs are usually much larger than the males. In fact, they can weigh up to 750 grams, whereas the males only go up to about 600 grams. Take a look at its head. It's really broad and flat, isn't it? And you can see its mouth just here. That's quite large, too. Now, both the male and the female American bullfrogs have green or brown bodies and have dark spots on the top. But there's one important difference between them. The male's throat is yellow, but the female has a white one instead. And the other difference is their eardrums, here, just behind their eyes. Those of the male are much larger than the female's. So, let's move on to why we so dislike the American bullfrog. Well, this is because it has threatened our own native species of frogs. Firstly, it breeds very quickly indeed. For example, female bullfrogs can lay up to 25,000 eggs every single season. And secondly, the American bullfrog is very greedy. In fact, they eat just about anything they can put into their mouths. As well as other frogs, they eat insects, fish, and have even been known to eat birds and snakes. So, in other words, they eat the food sources of our own native species. Thirdly, they carry a disease that is dangerous to other frogs. And finally, they don't just damage our natural world, they cause financial damage too. Around £100,000 has been spent monitoring the American bullfrog in the wild. So, as scientists, we can learn a lesson from this about the dangers of introducing any living species into a new environment. "I'm not a good friend."

Homework Practice

OK, everyone. I think we're ready to make a start. Now, when you think of a dangerous animal, what do you think of? A tiger, perhaps? Or maybe a leopard? Most people think that all dangerous animals live on land, but in fact, some of the most dangerous animals on the planet live in our seas and oceans. I'm going to talk today about one of these, the box jellyfish. There are different types of box jellyfish, and they are found in warm coastal seas anywhere from the Indian Ocean to as far north as Japan, but the most dangerous ones are found in the oceans around Australia. OK, so now let's examine what these box jellyfish look like. There are no prizes for guessing why it's called a box jellyfish. You can see that it's shaped like a box or a cube, with four sides and rounded corners. and you can also see that its body is light blue. So, let's take a look at the tentacles of the box jellyfish more closely. It's got 15 of these growing from each of the four corners of the box. Now, you may be surprised to learn that these tentacles can grow to a length of 3 metres. And another surprising thing is its large number of eyes, That's six eyes on each of its four sides, so 24 altogether. So now let's move on to talk about the sting of a box jellyfish. What is it? Well, a jellyfish has a lot of tentacles, and each tentacle has thousands of cells which can produce a poison. If the tentacles come into contact with a fish or a person, they stick to their skin. If the tentacles are very long, they are in contact with a lot of the body, giving a bad sting which hurts terribly. This can be dangerous to the victim. There are two ways that people can die as the result of a jellyfish sting. Firstly, a very severe sting can cause a person to have a heart attack. This can happen within minutes. Secondly, sometimes a swimmer goes into shock and can't make it back to the beach because they are in such extreme pain. If they're in the water alone, they'll die. And now I'd like to conclude with advice on how to help someone who has been stung by a box jellyfish. If they have had a heart attack, of course the most important thing is to try to revive them first of all. And then the best thing to help is vinegar. Yes, the same vinegar you use when you're cooking. Many Australian beaches keep bottles of it near the jellyfish warning signs. You should pour a bottle over the tentacles for 30 seconds, and then the tentacles can be removed. However, if you get stung and don't have any vinegar, you should pour seawater on the skin. This will help to ease the pain before you can get further medical help.